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Man switches from Obamacare plan to Trumpcare junk plan, gets himself tested for Coronaviru$$$$

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pcgeek11 said:
The really screwed up part is that his life savings at age 49 was only 9,000 dollars.

WOW.
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I’m assuming that figure doesn’t include illiquid assets like retirement accounts or business assets/home. $9000 in savings accounts and/or CDs sounds about right for his income bracket/cost of living.
 
nakedfrog said:
Especially if you're in your 40s, a smoker, and aren't consistently managing your diabetes...
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Part of me actually thinks that with crowdfunding and looking at major problems it may not be such a terrible financial risk to take, although for necessary care for chronic illnesses it certainly wouldn't be.

I'm actually less conflicted over a purely free market healthcare system than most people. I don't think it's the right thing, but I respect that we could choose as a country to decide there are no implicit rights to healthcare or quality in healthcare. Problem is those who say they agree with this are just attached to a system which carries a fantasy of that system. Since we have EMTALA, a whole host of regulations, malpractice, etc., we regularly defeat any of the pressures which might create incentive for quality and cost efficient care from market pressure. And as a result still keep healthcare practically inaccessible to those without means. Socialized medicine of some ilk is a no-brainer for 99% of consumers. The transition to it, however, is a hell of a lot trickier.
 
interchange said:
Part of me actually thinks that with crowdfunding and looking at major problems it may not be such a terrible financial risk to take, although for necessary care for chronic illnesses it certainly wouldn't be.

I'm actually less conflicted over a purely free market healthcare system than most people. I don't think it's the right thing, but I respect that we could choose as a country to decide there are no implicit rights to healthcare or quality in healthcare. Problem is those who say they agree with this are just attached to a system which carries a fantasy of that system. Since we have EMTALA, a whole host of regulations, malpractice, etc., we regularly defeat any of the pressures which might create incentive for quality and cost efficient care from market pressure. And as a result still keep healthcare practically inaccessible to those without means. Socialized medicine of some ilk is a no-brainer for 99% of consumers. The transition to it, however, is a hell of a lot trickier.
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In summary, we privatize gains and socialize losses. The system is horribly broken. Easy fix? Unfortunately not.
 
UNCjigga said:
I’m assuming that figure doesn’t include illiquid assets like retirement accounts or business assets/home. $9000 in savings accounts and/or CDs sounds about right for his income bracket/cost of living.
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I wouldn't call retirement illiquid and I would figure that "life savings" would include retirement.

You can cash out those investments at any-time - you would just have to pay tax + 10% penalty if you aren't past retirement age.
 
TheVrolok said:
In summary, we privatize gains and socialize losses. The system is horribly broken. Easy fix? Unfortunately not.
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From a pure healthcare efficiency and quality perspective, generally (at least when it comes to pay structure), starting over from scratch is what makes sense. But that is doomed to failure. Firstly, it displaces so many people and kills an entire mega industry overnight. Secondly, there still needs to be reasonable delivery of care to people already being served as the industry adjusts to a new system. Thirdly, those people and industry giants are surely going to push back and in ways that mobilize consumers by creating false impressions without being transparent about the source of the misinformation. The tobacco industry defeating taxes on cigarettes as taxes on the poor is a good example.

I don't know if ideologically I feel an insurance industry should exist to support VIP healthcare access, but I certainly feel an option to private pay for services would be a good thing. If someone wants a test which is not indicated and can cause harm, for example, should we provide it if they are willing to pay? It's a broader ethical question, but I don't think any physician should be required to provide it and I think if they advise against it and provide it they should be indemnified from the consequences as long as they provided appropriate informed consent to a person who has such capacity.

Realistically, a gradual Medicare expansion with elimination of out of pocket costs over time plus a supplemental insurance market makes the most sense to me.
 
soulcougher73 said:
LOL @ insurance being a good idea for health
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LOL @ not understanding that every single developed nation has the equivalency of an insurance.

Just because you pay it on every paycheck to the government instead of an actual insurance company doesn't take away from the fact that you're pooling everyone's money and then ultimately distributing to select people who require more care.
 
s0me0nesmind1 said:
LOL @ not understanding that every single developed nation has the equivalency of an insurance.

Just because you pay it on every paycheck to the government instead of an actual insurance company doesn't take away from the fact that you're pooling everyone's money and then ultimately distributing to select people who require more care.
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Right, but in other developed countries i dont pay any out of pocket. Here you pay for it twice. One as insurance, then an ass raping when you want to use it.
 
s0me0nesmind1 said:
In the case of this story though - it's likely not an out of network issue and more along the lines of just a bunch of expensive bullshit of a hospital emergency room or whatever they ran him for.
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Why do you hate the free market? Under republican Freedumb-Care, they have every right to charge you a gajillion dollars, and then sue you into oblivion when you can't pay. Pay out the a$$ for a lawyer and try to fight it, or just declare bankruptcy like millions already have.
 
dainthomas said:
Why do you hate the free market? Under republican Freedumb-Care, they have every right to charge you a gajillion dollars, and then sue you into oblivion when you can't pay. Pay out the a$$ for a lawyer and try to fight it, or just declare bankruptcy like millions already have.
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Healthcare is the only industry where you can legally perform a service and if someone asks the question "How much does it cost?" they can shrug and say "I dunno"

That isn't the free market broceritops. That's literally the opposite.
 
s0me0nesmind1 said:
Healthcare is the only industry where you can legally perform a service and if someone asks the question "How much does it cost?" they can shrug and say "I dunno"

That isn't the free market broceritops. That's literally the opposite.
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Exactly and as I say. The simple fact you can take classes (and acquire licensure in some states) to become a “Medical billing expert” is fucking crazy.
Imagine any other service working like this, consumers would be pissed but regarding healthcare we are all Meh, that’s what happens.
 
nOOky said:
If he can just hang in there until Trump reveals his great health care plan after the election... I suspect he'll be just fine.
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I know I’m still waiting for my promised healthcare that will:
Have lower cost
Lower deductibles
Better care
Choose your Doctor
Everyone will have coverage if the want it
Nobody dies on the street
Plus much, much more good stuff
 
Viper1j said:
"He also says he has not applied for Social Security disability benefits because 'it takes too long'."

This implies he's mostly just a lazy fuck. Time is not a factor when your eyes are bleeding. If the money comes too late, you can always use it on a good dog.
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Probably be on air in the future for Optimum Tax relief cause he hasn't filed his taxes for tens years, and we are supposed to be sympathetic to his predicament. He beat the IRS. Personal responsibility, ya know.
 
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hal2kilo said:
Probably be on air in the future for Optimum Tax relief cause he hasn't filed his taxes for tens years, and we are supposed to be sympathetic to his predicament. He beat the IRS. Personal responsibility, ya know.
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Of course it takes a long time! They need to see if you really have a disability! Then you need to get Doctors to cooroberate that you really do have a disability and then Social Security`s own doctors get involved! It can be a long drawn out process! Then you might need to take them to court if you get turned down, there a Judge specializing in Social Security law will get involved...it can be time consuming!
 
JEDIYoda said:
Of course it takes a long time! They need to see if you really have a disability! Then you need to get Doctors to cooroberate that you really do have a disability and then Social Security`s own doctors get involved! It can be a long drawn out process! Then you might need to take them to court if you get turned down, there a Judge specializing in Social Security law will get involved...it can be time consuming!
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He should get the surgery and list Trump as his "next of kin", so Donnie will be on the hook for the bill.
 
UNCjigga said:
I’m assuming that figure doesn’t include illiquid assets like retirement accounts or business assets/home. $9000 in savings accounts and/or CDs sounds about right for his income bracket/cost of living.
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If you are 49 years old and only have a life savings of $9,000 then you are doing it all wrong.
 
Viper1j said:
"He also says he has not applied for Social Security disability benefits because 'it takes too long'."

This implies he's mostly just a lazy fuck. Time is not a factor when your eyes are bleeding. If the money comes too late, you can always use it on a good dog.
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I guess he never heard of the qualifying life event.
 
pcgeek11 said:
If you are 49 years old and only have a life savings of $9,000 then you are doing it all wrong.
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Are you the guy who, in this very thread, said you "weren't up on it" with regard to savings. I guess you've become a content expert in the last 19 hours? Dude, we can read what you write. It's right here.
 
Viper1j said:
"He also says he has not applied for Social Security disability benefits because 'it takes too long'."

This implies he's mostly just a lazy fuck. Time is not a factor when your eyes are bleeding. If the money comes too late, you can always use it on a good dog.
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Most likely not mentally competent, but if Trump and the rest get their way that will be pretty much gone too. In days of old this problem was addressed with a dog, cut and white cane standing on the street, which is good enough for them.

In principle I'd love some form of universal care but the government can't do that properly. Disagree? Read the headlines. When we no longer have politics being more important than people and lose the authoritarian tendencies that some have we might, but by then we're likely to have broken the environment beyond repair.

Gloomy? Absolutely, but we ought to try anyway.
 
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